Warning over HMRC scam email that promises you a tax refund ahead of self-assessment deadline
Fraudsters have launched their latest effort to get people to give away their bank details by pretending to be from HMRC
HMRC has warned Brits not to fall for a new scam which claims they are entitled to a tax refund.
Millions are currently completing their self-assessment tax return ahead of the January 31 deadline.
But scammers are trying to take advantage by sending a new batch of emails to people saying they're entitled to a refund.
The email claims to be from "HMRC Office Gateway" and tells people to click a link which takes them to a "customer portal", where they'll be encouraged to enter their bank details in order to claim the refund.
But HMRC will never send information about refunds or rebates via email - or ask for your payment details either.
The address for the scam looks like it comes from "Hmrc.gov.uk" but when you expand the address it reveals a long line of seemingly random letters and numbers.
One person who was taken in by the email was George Stephens.
The 19-year-old from Bury received the email today and clicked on the link and filled in his bank details before he double checked with HMRC to see if it was genuine or not via Twitter.
He said: "It said I could get back £265.
"I went through to the online form and was within a nanosecond from submitting it but then checked the email address.
"It appeared like a .Gov email but was actually from a totally random outlook one.
"It's shocking - I used to work a little in IT so feel a bit of a mug for even clicking it.
"You do wonder who's behind it - weather it's a large network of people doing it or someone by themselves.
A spokesman for HMRC told the Sun Online that it was aware of the latest scam and just today has asked for 150 websites linked to scams to be taken down.
"In the run up to the self-assessment tax deadline of 31 January criminals ramp up their efforts to rip off honest taxpayers.
"If you receive a text or email claiming to be from HMRC saying you are owed a tax refund and asking for information such as credit card or bank details then it’s a scam.
"HMRC gets fraudulent web-sites taken down and we work with other law enforcement agencies to identify the criminals behinds these scams."
In the summer, crooks used fake social media accounts to trick people in handing over their financial information.
You can report refund tax scam emails by sending them to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.
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